Two Very Fine Austrian 'Maximilian' Haquebut Barrels, ca. 1500

[Matchlock]

Both are hammered of fire-blackened wrought iron, octagonal with changing sides, and both preserved in unusually good and crisp condition. Please note the fully developed standing rear rights, the short, staged recoil-stop hooks pierced for a stock-retaining pin, and the short reinforced (swamped) muzzle rings (German Mündungsköpfe) carrying a blade foresight.

Both of them are obviously two of a series made by the same workshop, four of which are still preserved. They retain their original small right-hand priming pans with the touch holes in the center, and the original pan-cover rivets (the pan covers missing).

The second in line is struck with an N-like symbol above the breech and bears a additional engraved X-like identification mark. The most remarkable fact about it however is that the original touch hole situated within the pan seems to have been nailed up and another touch hole pierced right in fron of it within the gun's working life.

Both barrels are preserved in the Museum Ferrum (museum of iron) in Ybbsitz, Austria.

Their measurements:

1. Length overall 92 cm, bore 2.9 cm

2. Length overall 81 cm, bore 2.8 cm.


Best,
Michael